Illuminated ash tray



1955 w. J. DE BEAUBIEN 2,702,338

ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY Filed Dec. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l M M v I 1 w" inINVENTOR.

. @31 2 d'flfiw izk/r [/5 2/ if //J ATTORNEYS Feb. 15, 1955 w. J. DEBEAUBIEN 2,702,338

ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY FiledDec. e, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i7 INVENTOR.

1955 w. J. DE BEAUBIEN 2,702,338

ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY Filed Dec. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 22 BY KY} l g,0 @WZW A7TORNEYS' United States Patent ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY William J.de Beaubien, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1951,Serial No. 260,213

11 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to an ash tray, and moreparticularly to an illuminated ash tray for an automobile.

One feature of the invention is that it provides an improved illuminatedash tray; another feature of the invention is that it provides means forproviding a beam from a lamp when the ash receptacle is in one positionand for blocking said beam when the receptacle is in another position; afurther feature of the invention is that it provides means forilluminating the interior of the ash receptacle when said receptacle isfully open, and means for providing a beam of light rays outside of saidreceptacle when the receptacle is partially open; still an other featureof the invention is that it provides a switch for controlling theoperation of the lamp which is associated with the ash tray and a bafileon the movable ash receptacle for operating the switch upon movement ofthe receptacle and for controlling said beam; yet a further feature ofthe invention is that it provides an ash tray comprising a supportingframe, an ash receptacle slidably mounted on said frame for movementbetween open and closed positions, a lamp on said frame rearwardly ofsaid receptacle, switch means adjacent said lamp, and a bafile mountedon said receptacle and extending rearwardly adjacent said lamp forproviding a beam from the lamp when the receptacle is partially open,and for blocking the beam when the receptacle is fully open; yet anotherfeature of the invention is that the receptacle is provided with anopening for admitting light into the interior thereof and means areprovided for directing rays from the lamp toward said opening; and stilla further feature of the invention is that the lamp is provided with ahousing having openings for directing rays from the lamp, and the batlleis provided with a window adapted to be aligned with one of the openingsin the lamp housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through an automobile instrumentpanel having the improved ash tray mounted thereon, the ash tray beingshown in closed position in solid lines, in partially open position indotted lines, and in fully open position in broken lines. Figs. 2, 3 and4 are enlarged views showing the ash tray in closed position, Fig. 2being a partially broken away horizontal longitudinal section along theline 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 being a transverse section along the line 3-3of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 being a partially broken away verticallongitudinal section. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged views showing theash tray in partially open position, Fig. 5 being a fragmentary sectionsimilar to a portion of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 being a longitudinal sectionalong the line 66 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 being a transverse section alongthe line of 7-7 of Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9 show the ash tray in fully openposition, Fig. 8 being a section similar to Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 being asection along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The instrument panel of an automobile generally is provided with an ashtray for the convenience of the occupants ot' the automobile front seat.Unless the ash tray is illuminated at night it is often difficult to besure that the ashes, etc., are deposited in the tray and are not droppedon the floor of the automobile. This invention provides an improved ashtray having means to illuminate the interior of the ash tray when theash tray is fully open, and having means for directing a beam of lightdownwardly when the ash tray is partially open and for blocking saidbeam when the ash tray is fully open. The downwardly directed beamserves to illuminate the floor ice of the automobile so that any articlewhich may have been dropped can be easily located, and the beam may alsoserve as a map light or reading light. In order to provide thedownwardly directed beam the ash receptacle is moved into anintermediate or partially open position. When the ash receptacle ismoved to fully open position the beam is blocked, and the only lightseen is a dim illumination in the interior of the ash receptacle todefine its periphery so that articles may easily be deposited in the ashtray. When the ash receptacle is closed the lamp which provides thesource of illumination is extinguished.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the instrument panel 10 ofan automobile has an opening 11 therein, behind which is mounted asupporting frame designated generally as 12, said frame providing aslidable mounting for an open-topped ash receptacle designated generallyas 40. The frame 12 preferably is formed of two sheet metal stampings,the first being a top member having a plane portion 13 and a forwardportion 14 which is bent upwardly to provide supporting means adapted toreceive a machine screw 15 which secures the frame to a rearwardly bentbracket portion 10a of the instrument panel 10 of the automobile.

A metal strap 16 extends over the top portion 13 of the supporting frameand is secured by means of screws 17 to side plates 18 and 19 formingpart of the second sheet metal stamping of the supporting frame. Thelower portions of the metal strap 16 are bent inwardly to providebrackets 16:: whereby the strap 16 may be mounted on a reinforcingbracket positioned on a rearwardly bent lower portion 10b of theinstrument panel 10. The side plates 18 and 19 preferably are formedfrom a single sheet metal stamping which is bent to provide a connectingportion 20 joining the side plates at the rear, said metal stampingbeing again bent to provide a horizontal portion 21 and a verticalportion 22 which provides a rear wall for the supporting frame 12. Thewords forward and rear are used in the sense of defining the ash trayparts per se-that is, the ash receptacle 40 is moved forwardly to openposition and rearwardly to closed position. The side plates 18 and 19are bent inwardly at 18a and 19a respectively to overlie the top 13, andthe bottom edges of the side plates are bent inwardly at a right angleto provide flanges 18b and 19b. The outer edges of the front portion 14of the top member are bent down and inwardly to provide channel tracks14a and 14b upon which the ash receptacle 40 is slidable.

A lamp 24 is carried in a socket 25 mounted on the horizontal plateportion 21, the lamp bulb extending below the portion 21 into a lamphousing formed by said portion 21, the rear wall 20, the side plate 19,a front plate 26 having a window 26a therein, and an intermediate plate27 extending forwardly from the wall 20 intermediate the side plates 18and 19. The lamp housing is opened at the bottom, and preferably thesurfaces of the lamp housing members are painted black to prevent unduereflection of rays from the lamp 24.

A single pole single throw switch 28 is mounted on the plate 21 at theside of lamp 24, said switch having an actuating member 29 projectingdownwardly through the plate 21. The switch is spring biased to closedposition, in which position the actuating member 29 projects downwardlyto its fullest extent as shown best in Fig. 5. A lead 30 extends to oneterminal of the switch, this lead being held in position by means of aclip 31 secured to the wall 18 of the supporting frame, and the otherend of the lead being connected to a source of voltage, such connectionpreferably being through one of the lighting circuits of the automobile,as, for example, the tail light circuit. The other switch terminal isconnected by means of a lead 32 to one terminal of the lamp, and, as isconventional in automobile lighting systems, the other lamp terminal isgrounded.

The open-topped ash receptacle 40 is generally of conventionalconstruction, having a bottom 41, a rear wall 42, opposite side walls 43and 44, and a front wall 45 to which is secured an ornamental frontplate 46. A handle 47 is mounted on the front of the receptacle by meansof screws 48, and a snulfer 49 is formed by bending over a projectingportion of the front Wall 45.

As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9, the top edge of the rear wall 42of the ash receptacle is spaced from the lower surface of the member 13to provide a slot 60 for the admission of light rays into the interiorof the ash receptacle. Preferably the slot is of the order of A inchwide. The upper portions of the receptacle sides are bent outwardly,then upwardly and inwardly to form rails 50 and 51, these rails beingflattened throughout their forward extent and the respective flattenedportions terminating in shoulders adapted to engage detents 52 in thechannel tracks to provide stop means for the ash receptacle to limitsliding movement of the receptacle in the channel tracks.

A baffle 54 is secured to the ash receptacle bottom by means of screws55, this bat-fie projecting rearwardly adjacent and beyond the lamphousing and the switch. At one side near the longitudinal center of thebaflle 2. Wm dow 56 is provided. At the other side and somewhatforwardly of the window 56 the baflie is provided with a raised portiondesignated generally as 57 and having a rearwardly extending sloping orcam surface 58 and a flat raised center surface portion 59. The uppersurface of the baflie 54 and the outer surface of the receptacle rearwall 42 preferably are painted black to minimize reflection.

In assembling the parts the ash receptacle 40 is slidably mounted on thesupporting frame 12, the under surface of the baffle 54 riding upon thetracks 18b and 19b, and the rails of the receptacle sliding in thetracks 50 and 51. The rails may be squeezed together as the parts areassembled to facilitate the assembly. With the ash tray fully closed asshown in solid lines in Fig. 1 and as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, theswitch actuating member 29 rides up on the raised surface 59 on thebattle so that the switch is open, and the lamp 24 is extinguished evenif the lighting circuits of the automobile are energized. When the ashreceptacle is moved to a partially open position as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1 and as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the switch actuatingmember 29 rides down the sloping cam surface 53, and the switch isclosed. With the parts in this position, if the tail light circuit ofthe automobile is energized, the lamp 24 will be illuminated, and a beamof light rays from the lamp will be directed downwardly, passing throughthe window 56 which is now aligned with the open bottom of the lamphousing as shown best in Figs. 6 and 7. This beam of light willilluminate the floor of the automobile, anld1 the beam may be also usedas a map light or reading lig t.

When the ash tray is moved to its fully open position as shown in brokenlines in Fig. l, and as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the window 56 movesforwardly of the lamp housing so that the beam of light is blocked bythe baflie 54. However, light rays extending through the forward window26:: will enter the slot 60 between the top 13 of the supporting frameand the rear wall 42 of the ash receptacle to provide a dim illuminationfor the interior of the ash receptacle. When the ash receptacle is movedto closed position the switch actuating member 29 will ride up thesloping cam surface 58 to open the switch and extinguish the lamp.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it issubject to many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the constructionand arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportingframe; a receptacle mounted on said frame for movement between open andclosed positions; a lamp housing on said frame exteriorly of saidreceptacle; a lamp mounted in said housing, said housing having a firstopening for directing rays from said lamp toward said receptacle and asecond opening positioned angularly to said first opening; a switch forcontrolling the operation of said lamp mounted on said frame adjacentsaid housing; and a baffle carried by said receptacle and extendingadjacent said housing, said baffle having means for operating saidswitch to extinguish said lamp when the receptacle is closed, said lampbeing adapted to be illuminated when the receptacle is partially openand fully open, and said baffle having a window adapted to be alignedwith said second opening when the receptacle is in partially openposition to admit a beam from the 4 lamp, said bafile blocking said beamwhen the receptacle is in fully open position.

2. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 1, wherein said switchhas an actuating member extending adjacent said baffle, and wherein themeans for operating the switch comprises a raised surface on said baffleadapted to engage said actuating member when the receptacle is closed.

3. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting framehaving a generally plane surface; an open-topped receptacle slidablymounted on said frame for horizontal movement between open and closedpositions, said receptacle having a rear wall terminating below saidsurface to provide an opening into said receptacle; a lamp housing onsaid frame exteriorly of said receptacle; a lamp mounted in saidhousing, said housing having a first opening for directing rays fromsaid lamp toward said receptacle and a second opening positionedangularly to said first opening; and a baflie mounted on said receptacleand extending adjacent said housing, said baflie having a window adaptedto be aligned with said second opening when the receptacle is in oneposition to admit a beam from the second opening, said baffle blockingsaid beam when the receptacle is in another position.

4. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting framehaving a generally plane top surface; an open-topped receptacle slidablymounted on said frame for horizontal movement between open and closedpositions, said receptacle having a rear wall terminating below said topsurface to provide an opening into said receptacle; a lamp housing onsaid frame exterior of said receptacle; a lamp mounted in said housing,said housing having a first opening for directing rays from said lamptoward said receptacle and a second opening positioned angularly to saidfirst opening; a switch for controlling the operation of said lampmounted on said frame adjacent said housing; and a baflie mounted onsaid receptacle and extending adjacent said housing, said baffle havingmeans for operating said switch to extinguish said lamp when thereceptacle is closed and said bafiie having a window adapted to bealigned with said second opening when the receptacle is in partiallyopen position to admit a beam from the lamp, said baflle blocking saidbeam when the receptacle is in fully open position.

5. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportingframe; an open-topped receptacle mounted on said frame for movement intoand out of said frame between a plurality of positions; a lamp fixedlymounted exteriorly of said receptacle, said lamp being located below theopen top of said receptacle so that direct rays emitted thereby do notpass directly into said receptacle through the open top thereof in anyposition of the receptacle; means directing rays from said lamp intosaid receptacle; and a member carried by said receptacle having meansfor passing a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lampwhen the receptacle is in one position and means for intercepting thebeam when the receptacle is in another position.

6. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 5, whereln the membercarried by the receptacle comprises a baflie mounted on the receptacleand extending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said bafi lehaving a window so located that it passes a beam of rays from said lampwhen the receptacle is in one position and said baflie having a bodyportion intercepting the beam when the receptacle is in anotherposition.

7. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportmg-frame;an open-topped receptacle mounted on said frame for movement into andout of said frame between closed, intermediate and open positions; alamp mounted on the frame exteriorly of said receptacle, said lamp beinglocated below the open top of said receptacle so that direct raysemitted thereby do not pass directly into said receptacle through theopen top thereof in any position of the receptacle, said receptaclehaving a wall facing toward said lamp and being spaced from thesupporting frame so as to define an opening through which rays pass fromsaid lamp, means for directing said rays into said receptacle; and abafile mounted on the receptacle and extending away from said receptaclepast said lamp, said baflie having a window so located that it passes abeam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lamp when thereceptacle is in its intermediate position, the body portion of thebaflle intercepting the beam when the receptacle is in open position.

8. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportingframe; an open-topped receptacle mounted on said frame for movement intoand out of said frame between closed, intermediate and open positions; alamp fixedly mounted exteriorly of said receptacle, said lamp beinglocated below the open top of said receptacle so that direct raysemitted thereby do not pass directly into said receptacle through theopen top thereof in any position of the receptacle, said receptaclehaving a wall facing toward said lamp and being spaced from said frameso as to define an opening through which rays pass from said lamp, meansfor directing said rays into said receptacle; a switch for controllingthe operation of said lamp; and a bafile mounted on the receptacle andextending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said baffle havingmeans for operating the switch to extinguish the lamp when thereceptacle is closed and said bafile having a window so located that itpasses a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lamp whenthe receptacle is in its intermediate position, the body portion of thebaflle intercepting the beam when the receptacle is in open position.

9. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportingframe; an open-topped receptacle mounted on said frame for movement intoand out of said frame; a lamp housing on said frame exteriorly of saidreceptacle; a lamp mounted in said housing, said lamp being locatedbelow the open top of said receptacle so that direct rays emittedthereby do not pass directly into said receptacle through the open topthereof in any position of the receptacle, and said housing having afirst opening for permitting rays from said lamp to pass toward saidreceptacle, means for directing said rays in such a manner as toilluminate the receptacle and a second opening facing angularly to saidfirst opening; a bafiie mounted on the receptacle and extending awayfrom said receptacle past said housing, said baffie having a window solocated that it is aligned with said second opening when the receptacleis in one position to pass a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptaclefrom said lamp, the body portion of the baflle intercepting the beamwhen the receptacle is in another position; a switch connected to saidlamp; and means responsive to the movement of said bafiie for closingthe switch when the receptacle and bafile are in both said positions'10. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 9, wherein saiddirecting means include a slot provided between the frame and a portionof the receptacle for admitting rays from said lamp which pass throughsaid first opening in the housing, and means for directing said raysinto the interior of said receptacle.

11. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supportingframe having a generally plane surface; an open-topped receptacleslidably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of said framebetween closed, intermediate and open positions, said receptacle havinga wall extending perpendicular to said surface and terminating shortthereof to provide a slot which opens into said receptacle; a lampmounted on the frame exteriorly of said receptacle, said lamp beinglocated so that direct rays emitted thereby do not pass directly intosaid receptacle through the open top thereof in any position of thereceptacle; a partition on said frame between the lamp and thereceptacle, said partition having means for passing rays from said lamptoward said slot, means for directing said rays into the receptacle; anda bafiie mounted on the receptacle and extending away from thereceptacle past said lamp, said baffle having a window so located thatit passes a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from the lampwhen the receptacle is in one position, the body portion of the baffleintercepting the beam when the receptacle is in another position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,497,728 Kresh June 17, 1924 1,532,935 Patton Apr. 7, 1925 2,506,181Thibault May 2, 1950 2,555,716 Todhunter June 5, 1951

